by Javier Herrero PhD MD
This year’s CARS congress looks like it is going to be especially interesting thanks to the innovations in the field of the PSM (Patient Specific Model), a model that is already helping many surgeons to plan, explore or even robotize their procedures. In 2015, the PSM has been perfected even further with the development of a powerful new tool that is supposed to radically revolutionize not only the surgical world, but also entire medical procedures: Rapid Manufacturing.
In a short amount of time, the Rapid Manufacturing has managed to become a key element both in the understanding of anatomical alterations, such as complex fractures; and in the manufacturing of customized implants in orthopedics or in maxillofacial procedures. But the major paradigm shift comes with the fact that it allows biology and technology, twodisciplines whose contributions worked separately, to cooperate in a way never possible before. Biotechnology, as it was named several years ago, is finally reaching adulthood and we will see it at CARS 2015. In a few years, perfectly integrated customized biological implants will take the place of the current implants, which are manufactured with materials that over the years cause inflammatory processes or even rejections. Soon, we are going to be at the doorstep of creating three-dimensional collagenous structures that allow cell nesting and migration. We will even discuss the concept of “organ printing”.
As you can see, we live in an exciting time in which world changing discoveries are being made at an incredibly fast rate. Therefore, I consider myself very lucky to be involved in a congress that brings together individuals with diverse expertise and passions that will define the future of medicine.
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